Genus Lithospermum contains around 50 species. Its scientific name literally means stone-seed, and there was no need to explain why to anyone who had ever bitten down upon one: the bread that ancient Finns ate often contained corn gromwell’s rock-hard seeds. A purple dye could also be obtained from the root, and women would use this e.g. as rouge. It has a long tradition of being used in this way – at least 20,000 years according to finds. Despite this endearing usage, the species has primarily been a weed in Finland.

Like many other field weeds, corn gromwell is a follower of rye. Nowadays it is much rarer than it used to be and has almost disappeared in many areas, mainly due to changes in methods of agriculture. Its decline began with the development of land-use methods and more efficient seed-cleaning. Mechanical ploughs, field fertilization and weedkillers made sure of its disappearance. Like many other field weeds it is probably native to the steppes of south-eastern Europe, although this is only an educated guess. It spread all over Europe with the grain trade and reached Finland in the Middle Ages at the latest. It still clings on tenaciously on rocky outcrops and beside roads in south-western Finland.

Common Gromwell

Lithospermum officinale

In Finland rarer than corn gromwell is common gromwell (name also European stoneseed), which occasionally grows in southern Finland. It can be recognized by its narrowly ovate and clearly veined leaves and smooth fruits (schizocarps).